The Prime Minister urged police officers to remain steadfast and complete their duties faithfully. The government, he added, will continue to invest in the capacity of the RSLPF to prevent and respond to crime.
“The men and women of the police force must remain focused. They must remain focused on dealing with the crime situation in this country. [Despite] all the sideshows, the men and women must remain focused. Your job is to deal with the crime situation in this country. My job - and the job of members of my cabinet - is to give you the conditions, the tools, to do your job,” Pierre urged members of the RSLPF on Monday. He says this latest police headquarters is part of the administration’s commitment to ensuring adequate investment is given to law enforcement. According to the Prime Minister, the architectural drawings for the new structure were available, but the former administration failed to complete the building.
“From 2016 to 2021, we’ve had starts and stops, from one building to another, move from here, one plan to another…from 2017. You speak about a situation where your men and women,” he says. The Prime Minister gave his assurance to law enforcement personnel that his administration is different from the last. “We are not housing you with dinners and balls, we are putting our money where our mouth is…it’s not a matter of talk, or Facebook postings, or foolishness.”
Also present at the ceremony was Police Commissioner, Crusita Descartes-Pelius, who thanked the government for delivering the headquarters to the officers who serve in Gros Islet. “Today, as we come together for this sod-turning ceremony, we express our sincere gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister and the government for hearing the heartfelt plea of the men and women who serve in this community,” Descartes-Pelius said. She added that the resilience of the officers is being recognised now. “For many years, the men and women of the Gros Islet Police Station have been faced with the unsettling reality of not having a stable and suitable place to function - a place to call home. They have persevered, despite having to work under deplorable conditions and endure serious hardship.”
The National Insurance Property Development and Management Company (NIPRO) oversaw the tender process which determined the contractor for the construction of the headquarters. NIPRO is responsible for the refurbishment of fire and police stations across the island.